Atherosclerosis in diabetes mellitus: role of inflammation

Inflammation plays a central role in the pathophysiology of atherosclerosis, starting from initiation, through progression and ultimately the thrombotic complications of atherosclerosis. Diabetes mellitus is a major risk factor for atherosclerosis. Hyperglycemia-induced endothelial dysfunctions, along with hypercoagulable potential of diabetes mellitus, accelerate the process of atherothrombotic complications. Therefore, clinically feasible markers to monitor subtle systemic inflammatory burden and specific add-on therapy for the same constitute need of the present day. The understanding of the concept of inflammation in diabetes-accelerated atherosclerosis can be used practically to predict future cardiovascular risk by evaluating inflammatory biomarkers and to design clinical trials making inflammation as a therapeutic target.